Planooraph co



H. G. BECKER.

DRIFTING VALVE APPARATUS FOR LUCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION min Auzb. |916.

1,3 1 1,034, A Patented July 22, l.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Har-ry fecker.

'rus :OLUMBIA PLANounAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. t.

H. G. BECKER.y DRIFTING VALVE APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25. |9l6.

Patented July 22, 1919,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

In verdor Hart' 'ecer:

TMB CDLDMBIA mNDuIMPM co.. vlAsHlHa'rWN. D. C.

H. G. BECKER. nmfm vALvE APPAaMus Fon Locomonves.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25. 19H3. 1,31 1,034. Patented July 22, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

n venia/1 Harry @.ec/eer.

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TMB COLUMBIA PLANGGRAPH Cu.. WASIIINGTDN. u. C.

H. G. BECKER.

DRIFTING VALVE APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.25. |916.

1 ,3 1 1 ,034. Patented Ju 2, 1919.

6 SHEET ET 4.

H. G..BECKER. DRIFTING VALVE APPARATUS FOR LOCGMOTIVES;

' APPLICATION FILED AUGUZE, 1916. 1 ,31 1 ,034.. Patented July 22, 1919.

$3 Harry ec/er.'

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H. G. BECKER.

DRIFTING VALVE APPARATUS FUR LUCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-25. IBIE.

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Harry agee/ze By/zsiy,

TME COLUMBIA PLANGGRAPH co., wAsnlHa'roN. D.. c.

HARRY G. BECKER, OF WATERVLIET, NEW YORK.

DRIFTING-VALVE APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed August 25, 1916.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY Gr. BECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Watervliet, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drifting- Valve Apparatus for Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

A principal object of my invention is to furnish an auxiliary stem-supply and drifting-valve apparatus especially adapted for use on superheater locomotives. My present improvements are applicable wholly or in part to the cylinders of engines in general which have reciprocating pistons, and especially to steam engines operating under conditions Where the motive-power steamsupply is intermittent, as for instance in cases Where a stationary engine is running idle,-as by momentum of the fly-Wheel,- or where a locomotive engine is running along a railway track while the throttle valve of the engine is closed, thus making the engine to move along under the condition usually designated as drifting,

When my improvements are applied to superheater locomotives, the throttle valve operates to control in the usual manner the supply of motive-power steam from the boiler to the cylinders, by a relatively indirect route through the superheater, while the auxiliary supply of saturated steam is conducted by a more direct route from the boiler to the cylinder-mechanisms through their ley-pass lines. The drifting valve being in position and arranged in said auxiliary connection for cutting off said supply of saturated steam on the admission of steam from the superheater to the cylindermechanism, this mechanism is thus supplied with only a relatively small amount or increment of the saturated steam during the times when the main steam-supply is cut off. On the cessation of the main or motivepower steam supply while the locomotive is running, the drifting valve,in my present improvements,is automatically opened by the pressure of the said auxiliary steam supply combined with compression acting through a by-pass port, for thereby instantly admitting the required increment of saturated steam directly from the boiler and without passing through the superlieater, thereby to condition the steam or vapor content of the spaces Within the cyl- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Serial No. 116,776.

inder-mechanism While the engine is in operation but is not working to supply power.

A further object of my present invention 1s to so organize and combine together the auxiliary steam-supply apparatus and the cylinder-mechanism as t0 provide, not only for properly admitting and cutting olf the supply of saturated steam to the idly running cylinder-mechanism, but also on the opening of the auxiliary valve to open or effect a communication between the opposite ends of the cylinder itself whereby to accomplish by one simple and effective means, two important results. First, to open such communication between the opposite ends of the cylinders automatically and in an instantaneous manner; and, second` to so supply the increment of saturated steam to the cylinder mechanism as to distribute this steam increment alternately toward and to the opposite ends of the cylinder, so that the inlowing saturated steam will iiow and expand directly into the cylinder, and be distributed to and cut o? therefrom, in the same manner when the engine is idly running, or drifting, as, the motive-power steam is distributed and cut off during the normal operation 0f the engine in supplying power. A further object is to accomplish those operations in such an instantaneous and effective manner as to ordinarily prevent flashing of the lubricating oil in the cylinders, when, in high-pressure superheater engines, the motive-power steam is shut ofi'.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part 0f this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the forward part of a locomotive of a conventional type, having applied thereto my present improvements in one preferred arrangement thereof.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 1, as seen from a point at the right hand of Fig. l..

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the organization and systematic arrangement,- and is also illustrative of the mode of operation,-of my present improvements when these are applied to a superheater locomotive of the general character indicated. in Figs. 1 and 2, as hereinafter more fully described.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 3 for illustrating a modification in certain features of the drifting valve,

which as a Whole is designated by D, and is shown in Fig. 3 in a preferred forni and arrangement thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged and diagrammatic view of a portion ofj the valve-casing and the operable valve-member therein, for more fully illustrating several features of the coacting ports and faces of the valve seat and valve; and, Fig. 3" is view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 3", but showing the valve member in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the drifting valve when made of a form corresponding to the illustration thereof in said Fig. 3.

Fi 5 is a vertical sectional view of the drifting valve mechanism on line X5 in Fig. 4, and showing the operable valvemeinber, 2, raised to its closed position.

Fig. 5i is a fragmentary View similar to a portion of Fig. 5, for illustrating certain variations of the details thereof.

F ig. 6 is a View corresponding to Fig. 5 except that said valve member 2 is here shown lowered into its open position.

Figs. 6, 6b, and 6, are horizontal sectional views taken on the lines X6, X6", and XG, respectively, of Fig. 6.

Figs. 7 and S are respectively, a side view and an end View `corresponding to Figs. l and 2, but showing the drifting valve, D, applied to a. locomotive in which the cylinder mechanism is provided with a piston valve, instead of being provided with the ordinary type iof slide valve as indicated in Fig. 3..

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and l2, are a series of diagrams illustrative of the mode of operation of the drifting-valve apparatus, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Similar characters designate like parts in all of the views.

Referring to the drawings, my present improvements are itherein illustrated in one arrangement applicable to locomotive steam engines of a conventional type which, being so Well-known and extensively used, Will 'be su''liciently understood Without a more particular Ior detailed description thereof than is incidentally7 given in the following description.

As commonly constructed and arranged, such locomotives are or may be provided with some suitable boiler, as B, usually 'having a steam-dome, as B2; a cylinder-mechanism comprising some suitable cylinder, as C, (provided as usual With a piston, as M, and with suitable ports, as p, p), a valvechest indicated as a Whole by T, (Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8), having therein the interior valve-chamber, as V2, and an engine valve, as V; a main steam fpipe, as S, leading from a suitable point Within the yboiler (which point is usuaily or may be in the steamdome) to the cylinder-mechanism Where this pipe or conduit enters the valve-chest V2 or supplying the motive-power steam to the cylinder C; and a throttle-valve applied and operated in a usual manner. Said throttle valve, indicated at R, Fig. 3, may be of any usual or suitable description, and may be operated. by the usual appliances, (not herein shown).

By reason of the relations of the faces of the valve-member 2 and the valve-seat surfacesI of the valve-chamber in the casing l which faces and surfaces are inclined to the line of valve movement, the initial opening movement of the valve-member is a spaceforming movement, and not merely a sliding movement, so that the port-openings are closed and opened by the approach and recession of one said surface toward and from the other, as the ease may be. The valveseat-surface, 1d, being in the form, geometrically, of a truncated cone, and the valve-surface 2, (see Figs. 3b, 3, 5, 6), being of a correspondinff conformation, the bypassI ports, as h2, hz stand in such a position that a pressure therein acts not only transversely to ythe valve as indicated by the arrow fr in Fig. 3", but ailso downwardly as indicated by the arrow r9, in said Fig. 3, in which lthe proportionate effect of such downward action is indicated diagrammatically by the dimension y2. And when a suction occurs in a by-pass port, said dimension 1/2 similarly indicates the resultant upward pull upon the valve-member 2 for eifecting the closure not only of the by-pass port, but of all of the ports controlled by said valvemember.

The auxiliary steam conduit 20 is shown connecting one of said valve-chamber portopenings, h4, with the boiler, and the tivo bypass conduits, as 8, 9, lead from the opposite ends of the cylinder to the said two portopenings, as h2 h2', respectively, which are located in said inclined valve-seat surface, l, of the casing. Any admission., however s1nall,of the auxiliary steam-supply through the port h, is accompanied by a coincident and proportionate opening of the by-pass, and vice versa.

The operable part, as 2, of the drifting valve D is made up, preferably, in a single piece, since this construction is in itself .a safeguard against getting `out of order; also, and for similar reasons, this valve should be so made as to Work properly Without the use of packing rings, since such devices are too sensitive and delicate when made in the relatively small sizes required., for giving satisfactory service under lthe severe conditions vvh-ich usually obtain in high-pressure locomotives, and especially when `these are also superheater engines.

The valve member 2, is herein shown so constructed and arranged as to have or require no closely fitted guide-surfaces, no

paeking-rings or piston-like parts, and no valve-face areas having any sliding contact, since all of these features have always and necessarily, a frictional irsistance which in practice might be sul'lirient to prevent or unduly reduce the normal rotative move` ments whereby e'venness of Wear will be secured. By reason of this construction and arrangement the valve-member 2, during the opening and closing strokes thereof, is free to be gradually rotated, and still be etle:In tive in closing and opening said port-openings, simo the conical end Q, thereof-Which in specific lform is thus a truncated cone and also in the nature of a tapered plugwill correspond to and closely lit against. the seat 1d when the valve-member 2, is raised in Fig. 5. That the valve--n'iember 2, does rotate, I have determined by observa tion, under and by the action of the rota tional motion or Whirl (sometimes designated as vorn-X motionl) which, as I apprehend, is normally produced to some eX tent and frequently if not constantly within the valve-chamber 1, by the rapidly flowing and changing currents which occur therein.

In the present instance, the operable part 2, of the valve 2 is shown provided at the upper end thereof/With the Ll-Wing guiding stem 2b, Fig. 5, and at the lovver end thereof, with four ordinary guide-ribs or Ways 2, but any other suitable guiding means;- if and when any such are requi1ed,-1nay be used instead of the parts 2b, 2. The valve Q is also shown provided with the upper face (or face-Zone) 2d, of relatively small dian'leter, and with the lower face (or tacezone) 2f, of a relatively larger diameter. For convenience of manufaf'ture, lsaid fare zones Qd and 2f may br located as surfaces in the same geometric cone, (as clearly drawn in Fig. 5).

The valve-member 2 may be arranged in a chamber space Within a casing of any suitable form, and for this purpose I prefer to use a casing substantially such as the casing 1, which surrounds or incloses the valve 2, which is provided with the upper seat 1r1 and lower seat 11,for the valve face-zones Qd and 2f, respectively,and with a flange, 1g, whereby to detachably secure the casing to a lower member, 4. .This attachment of the member 1 to the member i may be made in a convenient manner by means of a flange, 4g, and a series of bolts, as Z), b, arranged in the Well-known manner indicated in Figs. e and 5. The stroke, or lift, of the valve 2 will be governed, of course, by the distance 12,-as shown in Fig. 5,-bctween a lovver surface of the casing 1 and the up 1er surface of the joint ring 3. The use o a joint ring, as 3, (in itself a Well-knovvndevice in other kinds of steam apparatus) is deemed to be preferable because readily replaceable for the purpose of repair, and because it provides for a slight swivel action as between the members 1 and 4, When assembling the mechanism. A plug, 4d, provided with a cork or discharge valve 4, may be arranged on the member 4;, (Figs. 5, 6), whereby to draw oil' condensed water or steam, occasion may require.

For connecting the valve-chamber within the casing 1, through the spare 5 of the ronduit member l, with the engine valverhamber V2, said member 4 may have any .suitable pipe or conduit leading directly into said valve-chamber (Figs. 3 and r or into the motive-power' steam pipe at some point between the superheater and the cylinder mechanism, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and S. For this purpose the titting oi basemeniber, 4, o'l the valve devia-e D is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, provided with the conduit portion or pipe 4, whereby the said connection of the drifting-valve with the main steam pipe, as 5, may bc made at a point a short distance above the cylinder mechanism; this latter arrangement is the one indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and is deemed preferable for engines having the ordinary forms of' slide valves, and it does not materially interfere with the removal and replacement of the usual valve-chest, as T, (Figs. l and 2,), when made of the wellknovvn separable form there indicated. In Fig. 3, the conduit Within member 4 is shown by dash lines at 5a as having a connection directly with the valve chamber V2. Also, in thisdiagram, the main steam pipe is shown divided into two portions, S, S, which (in superheater locomotives) connect as in ordinary practice through a superheater, diagrammatically indicated by dotted lines at H. In Fig. 2, a portion of the usual front plate (cover) of the smoke box, B3, is broken awa to show more clearly the superheater, when this comprises a group of curved pipes, as in one of the Well-known kinds in common use.

In Fig. 1,-also in Fig. 7, a turret, 1.8, located Within the cab, 40, is shown connected by a supply pipe, 18', with the steam dome ll2 of the boiler B. From the turret 18, a. steam pipe, 18", leads to the regulating valve 16, and from this valve (thus located in the cab) a steam line, of suitable size is run to the drifting valve D. In practice, this steam line, 20, may comprise one pipe connecting at the T 15 with tvvo similar pipes, as 10, 10', which may lead to the right-hand and left-hand drifting valves at D and D', respectively, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 8. In Fig. 1, said pipes 10, and 10', are indicated mainly by dotted lines, since they Will usually be run for protection under the usual boiler-covering, or jackets, and hence Will not be seen in a side-elevation view of the locomotive. Thus one valve at 16, Will equally control or regulate the admission of the auxiliary supply of saturated steam to the cylinder mechanisms on both sides oi the locomotive, and therefore the description of details and their mode of operation, isV

herein given in connection with only one olf the sels ol' mechanism, this set being the one shown in lf`ig. 1, and also at the left-hand in Fig. E2. The particular pipe 1U is herein considered to be merely one part of the steam-line 20.

As a coi'ivenient means for connecting the described auxiliary steam line to the Valve device D, the rasing l thereof may have at its upper end (Figs. l and 5), a T men'iber, 1, into which the pipe length 10 is connected.

For use in regularly supplying luhricator to the steam line 20, l prefer to locate some suitable oil reservoir or feeding mechanism at F, within the rah, and connect the same by a pipe, 1T, (Fig. having therein a regulating valve, at 17'; however other suitable devices or arrangenients may be substituted for those here indicated `for said purposes. (.)il thus entering the line or pipe 20, will be carried and distributed, when the locomotive is drifting to all parts of the valve-chambers and cylinders. Before leaving a terminal, the engineer will open the valve 16 in the cab, thus allowing the saturated steam to liow into steam-line Q0, and thence through the drifting valve, D, and to each of the cylinder-.mechanisms of the locomotive.

lll/Then the throttle-valve is opened, the motive-power steam after reaching the cylinder-mechanism liows from the valterhani ber, V2, through the passage 5 and thus comes to the bottom of the valve i2 and thereby normallyraises this valve to its seat 1f, (Fig. 5), thereby shutting off the flow of saturated steam ,at the port opening h4, and also closing the adjacent ends of the relief passages or conduits 8 and 9. The valve 2 normally remains closed as long the throttle is Lopen, but when the throttle is closed and the engine starts .drifting the valve 2 will drop.

In this open position, the said valvedisk or operable member, Q, rests on the jointring 3, and the upper valve-face 2d is so ar lowered as rto leave an ample space (Figs. V6, 6b) for the saturated steam to flow from the pipe 10, around said Value-tace 2d and through the pipe or conduits 8, 9, to the ends, nl, n2, respectively, of the cylinder C,-see Fig. 3; this is the normal position of the valsve 2 when the engine is standing and the throttle is closed.

In this organization of the details oi the vailvesdevice D, in the special form and arrangement thereof shown in Figs. 5.and 6, one pair of the described port-openings, as h4, h5 (Figs. 3, 5, 6),-are located not only in a relatively transverse position, (as

compared with said pair h2 7W), but are also located in the direction of the line of movement of the valve-member 2, and concentrically of thenxis ot said member 2, when this is regarded a rotatable n'lember. Thus 'in the peculiar arrangement herein described of the four conduits leading to and from the val device D, one of the said ports, as h4, supplies steam to all of said other portopenings, while another conduit port, as him-which is functionally op osite to the port Ira-supplies steam to tie member 2 in a reverse direction, and (in part or wholly, as the case may be) from the valvechamber, as V2, of the cylinder-mechanism. ln the aforesaid arrangement, therefore, there is one steam conduit which connects the port-openings 11,, with the boiler; a second conduit 5 which connects the portopenings h5, with the valve-chest chamber (as V3, Fig. 3) of the cylinder mechanism; and two conduits, as 8, 9, leading, respectively, from the other two port-openings, as iig, h2', to the opposite ends, respectively, of the cylinder. It will be noted that the portopening 71,5 is here shown extending from the seat lf to the lower end of the casing 1, and that the conduit space 5 may be regarded as a continuation of said port h5.

l/Vhilethe valve face is designated as a whole by es, (Fig. 3b), it is necessary to dis tinguish between the three 4component zones, .22, a4, and a6 thereof, since each of these has a special function and purpose not fully shared by the others. The upper Zone, z2, should the mid-zone 26 and lower zone 24 be cut away, would still close vthe port 71,4 on the 11p-stroke of the valve-member 2; in that case, however, the ports h2, /LZ' would be in communication iiotwithstanding that closed position of said valve-member Said mid-zone e has an analogous and special purpose, since it serves to close said oommunication between the side-ports h2, k2', while the lower zone e* serves to close access from below to said side-ports., and does this without the aid off said mid-zone. Thus while said several zones cooperate for a relatively general purpose, each one has a diferent location and serves a relatively separate and special purpose. From the one central valve-chamber space within the casing l, the steam flows at certain times, outwardly through each one of said four ports, or passages; at other times, it flows inwardly through each one of said ports. Tihus, there are four directions of ingress and egress of steam with respect to one and the saine central valve-chamber space, and through that central space each one of said four ports communicates directly with each of the other three said ports.

While the steam coming directly from the boiler through the auxiliary conduit 20, o crates with full effect upon the area of .tige

port-opening h4, and so operates in the direction of opening movement of this valve, the steam coming' through the by-pass line to the port-opcnmg h2, or h2', has a relatively reduced effect as regards the downward actuation of the valve, by reason of these several port-openings being located, respectively, in the described 'transverse and inclined relative positions. 'l `hus the amount of force applied through either side portopening,-as h2 or h2,-against the pluglike end 2T of the member '2, normally .is only partially transmitted into a force acting longitudinally of the axis (line of movement) of said member 2. Under some conditions, however, as when suddenly reversing the locomotive while running and when the engine valve and piston are in a particular position, a high-compression in one end of the cylinder may operate,-by such partially transmitted effect, especially if there should be an considerable amount of water in the cylin ,er-to open the valve 2, which thus becomes a relief valve by opening a line of communication or circulation, between the two ends of the cylinder. Therefore, the valve device D, when thus connected and arranged, may be considered as being, in one combined device, a reliefvalve, a circulating-valve and a driftingvalve.

The Said system and arrangement of portopenings, as will now be evident, comprises a by-pass,or circulation conduit or channel. around both the piston M and valve V, and also two channels which. in alternation, extend from the cylinder-ends, respectively, to the valve-chamber V2, and are opened and closed by the valve V. For illustrating these peculiar features, reference is made to the diagram Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, in all of which the valve 2 is in open position. In Fig. 9,-the valve 2 being open,-the engine ports p, p', are covered by the valve V, so that while the piston M is stationary, the steam entering the valvechainber (of the drifting-valve D) by the port h4 will flow to the cylinder mechanism through three paths, or courses, indicated by the arrow-lines 80, 50, 90, representing the conduit-lines 8, 5, and 9, respectively, In Fig. 10, the piston, M, (the valve V remaining closed as in Fig. 9) is moving toward the cylinder end n, thus reversing the fiow in path 90, while accelerating the flow in path 80 by suction. In Fig. 11, the valve V has moved to open the port p while the iston M continues movin to the righthand, (as in Fig. 10), wit the result of modifying the flowing currents as here indicated by the several arrow-lines, which toether indicate a normal operation of the drifting-valve while the locomotive is drifting and has the reverse-lever set forward for causing a relatively free exhaust from the cylinder to the stack. Fig. 12 represents the same operations and conditions as are set forth in Fig. ll, but with the piston movement reversed, as will now be obvious from a comparison of the drawings and the lines thereof', without further description.

.i y making the valve-seat l" lof the conical form, this seat is, or becomes, a single seat or surface, within the area of which are located two port-openings h2, hZ; and, since such seat, being preferably a cone, is also circular in transverse section, (Fig. 6), when said two port-openings are located in any non-connecting position in the area of said seat, thereby said port-openings are opposite therein, or oppositely-disposed therein, within the meaning of these terms as herein employed. Similarly, while the end portion' '2P of the valve 2 is preferably a true cone in form, in practice this cone may be only approximately of that geometric shape or construction, and the chief advantages of the truly conical construction will be obtained when and so long as that portion, 2p, is both taperin and circular in transverse section. since t is construction provides for the valve-member 2 to be rotatable without interfering with the reciprocation thereof. These minor variations in the said conical or taperin portion, may be of different degrees and inds, and as an instance thereof, one such is illustrated in the fragmentary view, Fig. 5, where the valve face 1" is shown on a curved line. or concaved, (in longitudinal section), while obviously circular in transverse section, at all points in the length thereof. Also` in this view the guide portion 2l (of Fig'. 5) is omitted.

Those features as indicated above and in said Fig. 5", may also extend to the valveseat lf, which is here shown as having an angular position somewhat different from the one shown in Fig. 5. By a comparison of these views as described, it will be evident that the arrangement of Fig. 5 has an important practical advantage in having the two faces ld and 1f arranged as continuations each of the other in one conical geometric surface,-especially since, during the closing movement, each of said faces then approaches its seat with the same ratio of space-reduction as regards the space (which may exist at anyT given moment) between a said valve face and its said seat.

The connecting or ley-pass conduit. as 8, 9, between the ends of the cylinder, serves as a means whereby the auxiliary suppl)7 of saturated steam. or of lnbricator and steam combined while being supplied to the cylinder-mechanism in a non-actuating quantity during the intermissions of the motivepower steam-supply, will be in partv forced back and forth between the ends of the cylinder and thus more fully utilize the lubriratoimaterial. But, in ractice, some portion of this auxiliary anti) composite supiily, will usually pass through the eiihaust vallves, and thus be discharged through the exhaustpipe and stack; and, in locomotives, this discharge may be in such quantity as to aid in blowing the lire while the engine is drifting, and also while standing.

By reason of the automatic operation thereof, the drifting-valve requires Vno attention from the engineer whlle making a ru'n, but when making a long stop he should usually close the regulating valve 16 which for his convenience should be located within the cab (asfltl, Figs. 1 and 7) of the locomotive.- In some cases, especially when making only a short stop, the said regulating valve 16 need not be closed, and at such times the engineer may open the usual blowoll' cocks (with which such c linder-mechanisms are ordinarily provided, in about the positions indicated at c, c', Fig. 3), and thus discharge from the cylinders such condensations as may be formed during the stop from the condensation of the saturated steam. i

In some instances within the purview of my invention, the 'escribed thir assageway, tj", for the auxiliary steam-supply may be omitted, and the valve D be so arranged that the saturated steam does not flow past the valve 2 into the space 5. Such a modified or less complete embodiment lolf my present invention is illustrated in Fig. 3a, where the valve-nic1nber,-here designated by 2a,-is shown provided with the upper face 2d, (which may be the same as the said face in Fig. 5), while the lower face 2f (of Fig. 5) is replaced by an ordinary piston, 2m; in practice, of course, this pistonshould be made of a size suitable for operating the valve. in view ofV the steam pressure employed and the other operating conditions. By comparison of the two arrangements, that is, of the valve 2 as described in connection with Fi s. 3, 5, 6, and of the valve Q as shown in 1g. 3a, it will be evident that in its general operation, and except as to the direct passage from the conduit i0 to the valve chamber V2, the two valves, 2 and 2a, may be regarded as being the same in and fory the purposes o some of the combinations defined in the claims of this ap lication.

When the locomotive is dritting and the cylinder valve, as V, has a stroke for alternately uncovering the ports p), the operation of the engine piston draws steam into the cylinder through two channels, or paths, at the same time, ile. through one of the pipes, as 9, and also through the conduit space,5, (Fig. 6), and the valve chamber V2. his feature of the operation is indicated in Fig. 3, where the engine piston M is sup osed to be moving toward the lefthand, wiile the throttle at R is nw assumed to be closed, and the engine valve V, (in this instance shown as a common D forni of slide-valve), is partially uncovering the port p. Thus, from the conduit 20, the auxiliary steam-supply can fiow past the lowered valve member 2, and a portion of the steam then How through the by-pass pipe Si to the cylinder, while another portion flows past said valve 2 into the conduit space 5, (as at 5 or 5a', in liig. 3), thence into the valve-chest V2 and, finally, passes in some part through the said port p into the cylinder. At this time, of course, the moving piston M operates on one side thereof to produce a relative vacuum in the cylinder end n2, while on the other side the piston pushes the contents of the cylinder end n toward the port p and pipe 8.

When the .locomotive is running at high speed with a short cut oli', the usc of this drifting valve system permits the usual reverse lever to be set in a somewhat lower position than otherwise desirable, and thus permits a corresponding increase in the travel of the cylinder valve, thereby more widely distributing' the wear in the valve chest and also making a more freely drifting engine.

/Vhen my present invention is applied to locomotives in which the cylinder mechanism is provided with the relatively large piston va ves now frequently used, particularly on locomotives employing high pressures and on super-heater locomotives, the drifting valve, D, may be arranged directly on a portion,--as l', Fig. 7 ,-oi` the cylinder casting (which thus takes the place of the member 4t as shown in Figs. 3 and 5), while the auxiliarv conduit branches, here, designated by 8 and 9', respectively, lead directly to `the usual ports (not shown) which extend (in a well known manner) around the usual form of piston valve. In this arrangement and modification the mode of operation as regards all of the principal features and functions will be the same as already described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. However, the improved arrangement yand construction thus brieliy indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 constitutes and embodies additional improvements which are not fully illustrated or specifically claimed in this application, but which are intended to constitute in part the subjectmatter of a separate application to be concu 'rently pending herewith.

he interior chamber of the casing l, constitutes a portion,-a section or lengthy-in and of a conduit'which leads from the boiler to the valve-chest through an auxiliary line that does not run via the throttle valve; and in 4said conduit section, the valve-member 2 is arranged (and is preferably uided therein) for being inclosed within a owing stream in which this member is subjected at all times to the same pressure on all parts thereof excepting when there'is an unbalance or inequality of pressures produced on and as between different portions of the valve-member surface by an exhaustin of steam through one or more of the described four conduit channels which come together in said casing chamber. Thus it may be said that the means for causing a movement of said valve member is not either aforesaid steam supply by itself, nor the pressure thereof," but rather that it is a reduction of pressure due to the exhausting of steam from limited areas contiguous to the valvemember surfaces.

This exhaust action takes place through a port (as for instance, the port h2, h2', and to by-pass pipe 8 or 9) which is wholl included within the area of the described t reezone valve-seat surface, so that in practice, the thinningr stream of steam,-a ainst which the valve is pressing while eing seated,-normally flows between said seatsurface and valve surface from all directions toward such exhaust port; this action produces a cushioning effect of a most perfect character, since the valve-member when nearly but not fully seated, may be said to rest. or bear upwardly upon a thin layer of rapidly-flowing steam which, in thickness, is being rapidly yet gradually reduced to zero; and, this film-like stream durinor the said seatin operation, is beinfr replenished by steam om one or the ot 1er, or from both, of the two conduits that lead from the boiler to said casing chamber.

Since, as will be evident from the drawings, (see Fig. 3b), and no more steam (from the motive-power steam supply) can pass upwardly through the spaces s, between the large-diameter seat lf and valve-face 2f, than will (at the same moment) pass through the space 85 between the more elevated' and much smaller diameter surfaces 1d and 2d, sai'd lower and larger surfaces therefore operatevas supplemental cushioning areas between which the upwardly movin current of steam forms an extended and t in,-but for the instant a highly resistant,-layer or cushioning-film of an elastic character and well adapted and effective for preventing a too rapid completion of the closing movement of the valve-member Q through thefinal stage of its upward closing stroke.

In passing upwardly between the faces lf, 2f (see F igs.` 3* and 6), of the sealing zone, the current of steam naturally spreads or expands into the annular channel space s? of the zone al, (Fig. 3b), and im inges against such areas as may be formed t erein for coaction with such current o-r stream. These features and the various effects tend to modify or control the 11p-flowing stream and the action thereof upon the valve-menber 2, with the result, as I now apprehend,

of first somewhat choking such 11p-[lowing stream and then by directing the current against the zone 212, actin upwardly upon the member 2, while, in t e meantime the accumulating steam in the channel s? is being depleted by a lowage, or exhausting thereof thro-ugh the space S5 between the faces l, 2d of the zone a". Thus a highly com )lex action or interaction takes place during the brief time-interval `while the member 2 is moving upwardly toward its fully closed position (Fig. 5), at which time the motive-power steam will have been cut off (from access to the by-pass line through the casing 1) by the combined action of said two separated zones 211 and a. Also, at this time, the by-pass-closing zone z8 of the member 2 will have been (by a movement of approach) brought to and seated against the casin -surface (as ld, Figs. 3 and 5), for there y closing the by-pass line, and concurrently therewith terminating the exhausting of the current of steam into one or the other side branch (as 8 or 9, as the case may be) of said by-pass line, or (in some part and momentarily) into the conduit 20.

One feature of the present apparatus relates to the opening and closing of the said four ports of the valve-chamber in the drifting3valve casing, each one precisely simultaneously with each of the others, so that the port-closing faces operateon one movement of the valve-member, to begin the openingl of each port at the same moment, and a1so,- on a reverse movement of that valve member, as 2,-to complete the closing of all the ports at the same instant. By this means, avoid any period of delay, or interval of time, between the initial opening of any one said port relatively to such initial opening of any other said port,-and similarly as to the final or complete closing thereof. Thus, also, I avoid the serious objection of having the initial opening of the different ports take place in succession, in my present drifting-valve apparatus the simultaneous beginning of the movement of approach toward their respective seats, of all the portclosing faces or valve-face zones, secures a nearly uniformly progressing closing or opening-as the case may be,-of the steamsupply ports and the by-pass ports, with the result that on the initial port-opening movement of the valve, and on even the slightest opening of these erts, all the streams flowing in the severa conduits which come together in the casing 1, are instantly mingled and interact together within the casing, and thereby are brought into a state of proper and complete reaction which progressively varies in a proportionate manner with relation to all of said ports during the entire working stroke of the valve-member, and during both the port-unclosing and portclosing movements thereof.

Having thus described my invention it should be understood that I do not confine myself to all the details of construction, as there may be modification thereof and variation therein Without departing from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A drifting-valve comprising, with means for supplying independent pressure to the interior of said valve at the respective ends of the valve, a valve-casing, a valvechamber having a plurality of port-o enings therein, and a movable valve-mem er for said valve-chamber engageable with all of said port-openings, and adapted by pressure in one direction on an end thereof to be disengaged from all said port-openings to open the same simultaneously, and by pressure independent of the last mentioned pressure in a reverse direction on an op osite end of said valve-member to engage al said portopenings to close the same simultaneously.

2. A drifting valve comprising, with means for supplying independent pressure of the saine character to the interior of said valve at the respective ends of the valve, a valve-casing, a valve-chamber having a plurality of port-openings therein, and a movable valve-mem er for said valve-chamber engageable with all of said port-openings, and adapted by pressure in one direction on an end thereof to be disen aged from all said port-openings to open t e same simultaneously, and by pressure independent of the last-mentioned pressure, but of the same character, in a reverse direction on an opposite end of said valve member to engage all said port-openings to close the same simultaneously.

3. A drifting valve comprising, with means for supplying independent pressure to the interior of said valve at the respective ends of the valve, a valve-casing, a valvechamber provided with a plurality of portopenings some of which are arranged therein inthe line of valve movement and seine of which are arranged therein transversely to the line of valve movement, and a movable valve-member for said valve-chamber engageable with all said port-openings, and adapted by pressure in one direction on an end thereof to be disengaged from all said port-openin s to open the same simultaneously, and y pressure independent of the last-mentioned pressure in an opposite direction on an opposite end of said valve-member to engage all said ort-openings to close the same simultaneous y.

4. A drifting valve comprising, with means for supplying independent pressure of the same character to the interior of the valve at the respective ends of said valve, a valve-casing, a valve-chamber provided with a plurality of port openings some of which are arranged therein in the line of valve movement and some of which are arranged therein transversely to the line of valve movement, and a movable valve-member for said valve-chamber engageable with all said port-openings and adapted by ressure in one direction on an end thereo to be disengaged from all said port-openings to open the same simultaneously, and by pressure independent of the last-mentioned pressure, but of the same character, in an opposite direction on an opposite end of said valvemember to engage all said port-openings to close the same simultaneously.

5. A drifting-valve comprising, With a valve-casing and With means for supplying independent pressure to the interior of the valve at the respective ends of said valve, a

valve-chamber provided With port-openings therein and provided with a plurality of conical valve-seat surfaces arranged in the same conical line, a plurality of said portopenings being located in a conical valveseat surface, and a movable valve-member provided with a plurality of conical valvesurfaces for engaging all the conical valveseat surfaces of said valve-chamber; said valve-member bein adapted by pressure in one direction on t e upper end thereof to open simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve-chamber, and by pressure independent of the last-mentioned pressure in a reverse direction on the lower end of said valve-member to close simultaneously all the port-openin s of said valve-chamber.

6. A dri ting-valve comprising, With a valve-casing and with means for supplying independent pressure to the interior of the valve at the respective ends of said valve, a valve-chamber provided with port-openings therein and provided With a plurality of conical valve-seat surfaces arranged in the same conical line, a plurality of said portopenings Kbeing located in a conical valveseat surface, and a recprocable valve-meniber provided with a plurality of conical valve-surfaces for en aging all the conical valve-seat surfaces o said valve-chamber; said valve-member being adapted by ressure in one direction on the upper end t ereof to o en simultaneously all the port-openings o said valve-chamber, and by pressure independent of the last-mentioned pressure in a reverse direction on the lower end of said valve-member to close simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve chamber.

7. A drifting valve comprising, with a valve-casing and with means for supplying independent pressure of the same character to the interior of the valve at the respective ends of said valve, a valve-chamber provided with port-openings therein and provided with a plurality of conical valve seat surfaces arranged in the same conical line, a

plurality of said port-openings being located in a conical valve-seat surface, and a reciprocatable valve-member provided with a plurality of conical valve-surfaces for engaging all the conical valve-seat surfaces of said valve-chamber; said valve-member being adapted by pressure in one direction on the upper end thereof to open simultaneously all the port-openings of said valvechainber, and by pressure independent of the last mentioned pressure, but of the saine character, in a reverse direction on the lower end of said valve-member to close simultaneously all the port-'openings of said valvechamber. i

8. A drifting valve comprising, with a valve-casing and with means for supplying independent pressure of the same character to the interior of said valve at the respective ends of the valve, a valve-chamber provided with port-openings therein and provided with a plurality of valve-seat surfaces all portions of which are similarly inclined to the line of the valve movement, a plurality of said port-openings being located in an inclined valve-seat surface, and-a movable valve-member provided with a plurality of inclined valve-surfaces for engaging all the inclined valve-seat surfaces of said valve-chambers; said movable valvemember being adapted by pressure in one direction on the upper end thereof to open simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve-chamber, and by pressure independent of the last-mentioned pressure, but of the same character, in a reverse direction on the lower end of said valve-member to close simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve-chamber.

9. A drifting valve comprising, with a valve-casing and with means for supplying independent pressure to the interior of the valve at the respective ends of said valve, a valve-chamber provided with port-openings therein and provided with a plurality of valve-seat surfaces arranged in the same conical line comprising a conical long valve-seat portion and a conical short valveseat portion, a plurality of said ort-openings being located in said conical ong valveseat portion, and a movable valve-member provided with a plurality of conical valvesurfaces oomprisi l a conical long valvesurface portion aiid a conical short valvesurface portion for engagin the valve-seat portions of said valve-cham er; said movable member being adapted by pressure in one direction on the upper end thereof to open simultaneously all the port openings of said valve-chamber, and by pressure independent of the last mentioned pressure in a reverse direction on the lower end of said Valve-member to close simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve-chamber.

10. A drifting-valve comprising, with a valve-casing and with means for supplying' independent pressure of the same character to the interior of the valve at the respective ends of said valve, a valve-chamber provided With port-openings therein and provided Witli a plurality of valve-seat surfaces all portions-of Which are similarly inclined to the line of valve movement comprising an inclined `long; valve-seat portion and an inclined short valve-seat portion, a plurality of said port-openings being located in said inclined long valve-seat portion, and a niovable valve-meinber provided With a pluralityl of inclined valve-surfaces comprising an inclined long valve-surface portion and an inclined short valve surface portion for engaging the inclined valve-seat portions of said valve-chamber; said movable valvemember being adapted by pressure in one direction on the upper end thereof to open simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve-chamber, and by pressure independent of the last mentioned pressure, but of the same character in a reverse direction on the lower end of said valv -member to close simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve-chamber.

11. In a drifting-valve apparatus for cylinder-mechanisms havin a cylinder with a piston therein, and a va ve-chest with a distribution valve therein, the combination of a drifting-valve oasin having therein a Valve-chamber provided with a continuous seat-surface comprising three zones and also provided with four port-openings of which one port-opening is an inlet-port, of which a second port-opening is an outlet-port intermediate to said inlet-port and the valvechest, and of which two port-openings are by-pass ports located in a zone which is in an intermediate position relatively to said inlet and outlet ports; by-pass conduits leading from said by-pass ports to the opposite ends, respectively, of the cylinder; and, a reci rocatable valve-member inclosed Within sais valve-chamber and comprising in one continuous surface three valve-face zones in position and fitted for simiiltaneously eecting three different closures, respectively, namely: one zone for closing said inlet port, a second zone fo-r closing said outlet port, and a third and intermediate zone for closing the two by-pass ports.

12. A drifting valve comprising, with a steam boiler and a steam engine having a cylinder with a piston therein and having a valve-chest with a distributing valve therein, a valve-casing, a valve-chamber provided, with port-openings therein and provided with a plurality of conical valveseat surfaces arranged in the same conical line, two of said port-openings being located in a conical valve-seat surface and being respectivey means for communication for said valve with the respective ends of the cylinder, and two of said port openings being resl'iectiuely an inlet means to said valve for steam from said boiler and a means for communication for said valve with said valve-chest, and a movable valvemember provided with a plurality of conical valve-surfaces for engagihgthfe conical valve-seat surfaces of said valve-chan'lbcli, whereby steam pressure through said inlet means on the upper end of said movable valve-member will open simultai-ieously all said port openings, and steam pressure on the lower end of said movable valve-member through said means for communication with saidV valve-chest Will close simultaneously all said port openings.

13. A drifting valve comprising, with a steam boiler and la steam engine having a cylinder with a piston thereiniand having a valve-chest with a distri uting valvetherein` a valve-casing, a valve-chamber `provided with port-openings therein and provided with a' plurality of valve-seat surfaces all portions of which are similarly inclined to the line oi valve movement, two or said portopeningsbeing located in an inclined vval-veseat surface and being respectively means :for communication for said valve with the respectiveends of said cylinder and tivo of said port-openings being respec ively an inlet means to said `valve for steam from said boiler and a means `for communication `for said valve 4with said valve-chest,` and a movable valve-member providedfwith a plurality of inclined valve-surfaces for engaging the inclined valve-seat surfaces of said valvechamber, whereby steam pressure through said inlet means on the upper end df said movable valve-member will open simultaneously all said port-openings, andsteam pressure on the lower end of said movable valvemember lhrough said means `for communication with said valve-chest Will close'simultaneously all said port openings.

14. A drifting valve comprising, `with a Steam boiler and a steam engine having a cylinder with a piston therein and having; a valve-chest with a `distributing-valve therein, a valveecasingfa valve-chamber provided with porteopenings therein and provided with la plurality of conical valve-seat surfaces comprising a conical long`valve-seat portion and a conical short valve-seat portion. tivo of said portopenings being located in Said conical long valve-seat portion and being respectively inea-ns for communication for said valve with the respective ends'of said cylinder, and two of said portopenings being respectively an inlet means to said valve `forsteamfrom said boiler and a means for communication for said valve with said valve-chest, and a movable valvemeniber provided with a plurality of conical valve-surfaces comprising a conica] long valve-surface portion and a conical short valve-surface portion for engaging the conical valve-scat portions of said valvecliarnber, whereby steam pressure through said inlet means on the upper end oi' said movable valve-member will open simultaneously all said port-openings, and steam pressure on the lower end of said movable `valvemember through said means 'for communication with said valve-chest will close similitan'eously all said port-openings.

15. A drifting-valve coml'rising, with a steam boiler and a steam engine having a cylinder with a piston therein and having a val ve-chest Witha distributing val-ve therein,r a valve-casing, a valve-chamber provided with port-openings therein and provided with a plurality of valve-seat surfaces all portions of which are similarly inclined to the liuc of valve movement comprising an inclined long valve-seat portion and an inclined short valve-seat portion, two of said port-openings being located in said inclined long valve-seat portion and being respectively means for communication for said valve with the respective ends of said cylinder, and two of said port-openings being respectively an inlet means lto said valve for steam from said boiler and a means for communication `for said valve with said steam chest, and a reciprocatable valve-member rovided with a plurality of inclined vave-surfaces comprising an inclined long valve-surface portion and an inclined short valve-surface portion for engaging the valve-seat portions of said valve-chamber, whereby steam pressure through said inlet means on the upper end of said valve-member will be open simultaneously all said port-openings, and steam pressure on the lower end of said valvemember through said means for communication with said valve-chest Will close simultaneously all said port-openings.

16.` A drifting-valve comprising, with a steam boiler and a steam engine having a cylinder with a piston therein and lhaving a valvc-chest'with a distributing valve thefrein, a valve-casing, a valve-chamber provided with port-openings therein and provided with a plurality of valve-seat surfaces all portions of which are similarly inclined to the line of valve movement comprising an inclined long valve-seat portion and an inclined short valve-seat portion, there being an intermediate partly vertical Wall-surface portion between said inclined long and short valve-seat portions, two of said port-'openings being located in said inclined long valve-seat portion and being respective] f means forcommunication for said valve with the respective ends of said cylinder, and two of said port-openin' s being respectively an inlet means to sai valve for steam from said boiler and a means for communication for said vel-ve" with said steam-chest, and a rotatable reciprocatable valve-member provided with a plurality of inclined valve-surfaces comprising an inclined long valve-surface portion and an inclined short valve-surface portion for engaging the inclined valveseat portions of said valve-chamber, there being an intermediate partly vertical surface portion between said inclined long and short valve-Surface portions affording with said intermediate partly-vertical Wall-surface portion in said valve-chamber a means for passage in said valve-chamber, whereby steam pressure through said inlet means on the upper end of said valve-member will open simultaneously lall said port-openings, and a steam pressure on the lower end of said valve-memberthrou h said means 'for communication with sai valve-chest will close simultaneously all said port openings.

17. In a driftin -valve apparatus, in combination, a cylin er-mechanism comprising a cylinder with a pist/on therein, and a valvechest with a distribution valve therein; a drifting-valve casing having therein a valvechaniber provided with a seat surface comprising three zones, and having four portopenings of which one port-opening is a relatively small inlet-port, of which a second port-openin is a relativel larger outletport interme iate to said inlet-port and the valve-chest, and of which two portopenings are by-pass ports located in a zone which is an intermediate position relatively to said inlet and out-let ports; by-pass conduits leadin from said by-pass portsto the opposite en s, respectively, of the cylinder; and, a reciprocatable valve-member'inclosed within said valve-chamber and comprising in one surface three valve-zones arranged for effecting three dierent closures, respectively, said valve-zones being arranged one zone for closing said relatively small inlet port, a second zone for closing said relatively lar er outlet port, and a third and interme iate zone for closing the tvvo by-pass ports.

18. :In a driftin -valve apparatus, in combination, a cylin er-mechanism comprising a cylinder with a piston therein, anda Avalvechest with a distribution valve therein; a drifting-valve casing having therein a valvechamber provided with a continuous seat surface, comprising three zones, and also provided with four port-openings of which one port-opening is a relatively small inletport, of which a second port-opening is a relatively larger outlet-port intermediate to said inlet-port and the valve-chest, and of which two port-openings are by-pass ports located in yazone which 1s in an' intermediate position relatively to said inlet and out-let ports; by-pass conduits leading from said byass orts to the opposite ends, respective y, o the cylinder; and, aJ reciprocatable valve-member inclosed withln said valvechamber and comprising in o-ne continuous surface three valve-zones in position and fitted for effecting three different closures, respectively, said valve-zones being arranged one'zonc for closing said relatively small inlet port, a second '/.one for closing said relatively larger outlet port, and a third and intermmiiate zone for closing the two by-pass ports.

19. In a drifting-valve apparatus, in coinbination, a cylinder-inechanism comprising a cylinder with a piston therein, and a valvechest with a` distribution valve therein; a drifting-valve casing having therein a valvechambcr provided with a continuous seatsurfaee of conical form and comprisin three port-closing zones and alsoprovide with four port-openings of which one port-openingis a relatively small inlet-port, of which a second port-opening is a relatively larger outlet-port intermediate to said inlet-port and the valve-chest, and of which tvvo Portopcnings are by-pass ports located iu a zone which is in an intermediate positie-n relatively to said inlet and out-let ports; bypass conduits leading from said luy-pass ports to the opposite ends, respectively, of the cylinder; and, a reciprocatablc valvemember inclosed within said valve-chamber and comprising in one continuous surface of conical forni three valve-zones in position and fitted for effecting at the saine instant three different closures, respertively, said valve-zones being arranged one zone for closing said relatively small inlet port, a second zone in position for closin said relatively larger outlet port, and a third and intermediate zone for closing the two by-pass ports.

20. In a drifting-valve apparatus, in combination, a valve-chamber having therein a multi-ported valve-seat-surfacc arranged with a plurality of non-contiguous'ports, and having one said port arranged for connection with the valve-chest of a cylindermechanism, and also having one of said ports arranged for an inlet-port for an auxiliary steam supply; a reciprocatable valvemember inclosed in said valve-chamber and having o-ne multi-port-closing valve-face corresponding With said multi-ported valveseat-surface and arranged for simultaneously completing the closing of all of said ports, and having a second valve-face appurtenant to the valve-member and of a diameter larger than said multi-port-closing valve-face and constituting a supplemental cushioning area for the valve-member when closing. Y

21. In a drifting-valve apparatus, in combination, a valve-chamber having therein a multi-ported and conical valve-seatsurface arranged with a plurality of noncontiguous ports, and having one said ort arranged for connection with the va vechest of a cylinder-mechanism, and also having one of said ports arranged for an inletport for an auxiliary steam supply; a reciprocatable valve-member inclosed in said valve-clnunber and having one-niulti-portclosing valve-face corresponding with said conical and ported valve-scat-Sarfacc and arianged` for simultaneously completing the closing of all of said ports, and having a second valve-face located in a fixed position on the valve-member and of a diameter larger than said `niulti-port-closing valveface and constituting a supplemental cushioning area for the valve-member when closing.

22. `In a drifti ,-valve apparatus, in combination, a cylin er-mechanism comprising a cylinder with a piston therein, and a valvechest with a distribution valve therein; a valve-chamber having therein a multipoited and conical valve-seat-surface arranged with four non-contiguous ports, and having communication through one of said ports with the valve-chest of the cylindermechanism, and also having another one of said ports arranged for an inlet-port for an auxiliary steam supply; a reciprocatable valve-member inclosed in said valve-chamber and having one multi-port-closing valveface corresponding with said conical and ported valve-seat-surface and arranged for simultaneously completing the closing of all four of said ports, and a second valve-face located in a fixed position on the valvemember and constituting a supplemental cushionin area for the valve-member.

23. A rifting valve comprising a valvecasinv, a valve-chamber provided with, a plura ity of port openings and provided with a plurality of conical valve-seat surfaces arranged in the same conical line, and a movable valve-member provided with a plurality of conical valve-surfaces for en,- gaging all the valve-seat surfaces of said valve-chamber, and adapted by movement in one direction to open simultaneously all the ort-openings of said valve-chamber, and y movement of said valve-member in a reverse direction to close simultaneously all said port-openin s.

24. A drifting va ve comprisin a valvecasing, a valve-chamber provide with a plurality of port-openings and provided with a plurality of conical valve-seat surfaces arranged in the same conical line, and a movable valve-member of one piece construction provided with a plurality of conical valve-surfaces forengaging all the conical valve-seat surfaces of said valve-c amber, and adapted by movement i one irection to open simultaneously all the portopenings of Said valve-chamber andb'y Inovement of said valve-member in a reverse d1- rcct'ion to close simultaneously all said `politevenings .25. il drifting valivc con'iprising a valvecasin a valve-chamber provided with a plura ity of port-openings and provided with a plurality of inclined valve-seat surfaces all portions of which are similarly inclined t0 the line of valve movement, and a movable valve-member having a plurality olf incli ed valve-surfaceS for engaging lill the inc lined valve-seat surfaces of said valve-chamber, and adapted by movement in one direction to open simultaneously all tlieport-openings of said valve-chamber and by mvvemvlit 0f Seid` valvemmbr in f r@- veise direction to close simultaneously all Sel, te I1 i S- 26,13%" driljltirllgvalve `comprising a valvecs'iugz a valve-chamber provided with a p ura ity of port-openings and provided Witliaflurality of inclined valve-seat surfaces al portions of which are similarly inclined to the line of valve-movement, and a movable valve-member of one piece coustruction provided with a plurality of in- Clined valve-surfaces for engaging all the inclined valve-seat surfaces of said valvechest, and adapted by movement in one direction to open simultaneously all the portopenings o said valve-chamber and by movement of said valve-member in a reverse direction to close simultaneously all said nog -openinga 7. A drrting valve comprising a valvecasing, a valve-chamber rovided with portopenings and Vprovided Wlth a plurality of conicalfva've-seat surfaces arranged in the same conical linezand a movablovalve-member provided Wlth a pluralit of conical va ve-snurfaces or engagin al the conical valve-seat surfaces of `sai valve-chamber and provided at its upper end with a guidingimeans engaging a port-opening of said valve-chamber2 and provided at its lower en'd with aiding means engaging the lower portionlo? `said valve-chamber and affording'a bottom-stop for said valve-member; said movable valve-member being adapted by movement in one direction to open simultaneously all the `po1 tope1`iings of said valve-chamber and by movement of said va `ire-member in 'a reverse direction to close simultaneously all said port-openings.

28. A driftin valve comprising a valvecasingn a valve-c yamber provided with port- Qpenings Aand provided with a plurality of conical vave-seat surfaces arranged in the same conical line comprising a conical long valve-seat portlon and a conical short valveseat portion, there bein an intermediate partly-vertical wall-surface portion V'loetvveen said conical long and short valve-seat portionsLanH a movable valve-,member provided with e plurality olf4 @Onical valve-Surfaces eoniprisng a rcoinca long valve-surface portion Iand a conicaly hott Ivalve-surface porvli `foi;erlegen 'the mail aliviar wtions of said valve-chamber, there being an intermediate partly-vertical surface-portion between said conical long and short valvesurface portions affording, with said intermediate partly-vertical wall-surface portion of said valve-chamber, a means for passage in said valve-chamber; said movable valvemember being adapted by movement in one direction to open simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve-chamber and by movement of said valve-member in a reverse direction to close simultaneously all said port-openings.

29. A drifting valve comprising a valvecasing, a valve-chamber provided with portopenings and rovided with a plurality of valve-seat sur aces arranged in the 4same conical line com rising a conical long valveseat portion an a conical short valve-seat portion, there being an intermediate partlyvertical wall-surface portion between said conical lon and short valve-seat portions, and a mova le valve-member provided with a plurality cf conical valve-surfaces comprising a conical long valve-surface portion Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the and a conical short valve-surface portion for engaging the conical valve-seat portions of said valve-chamber, there being an intermediate partly-vertical surface-portion between said conical long and face portions affording, with said partlyvertical wall-surface portions of said valvechamber, a means for passage in said valvechamber, said valve-member being provided at its upper end with a means for guiding engaging a port-opening of said valvechamber, and provided at its lower end with guiding means engaging the lower portion of said valve-chamber and affording a bottoni-stop for said valve-member; said movable valve-member being adapted by movement in one direction to open simultaneously all the port-openings of said valve-chamber and by movement of said valve-member in a reverse direction to close simultaneously all said port-openings.

HARRY G. BECKER. Witnesses:

G. S. EDMoNDs, F. C. REARDON.

"Commissioner of Intente Washington, D. 0.

short valve-sur- 

